SUNDANCE BONUS FILM PICK

A former valedictorian quits her reporter job in New York and returns to the place she last felt happy: her childhood home in Connecticut. She gets work as a lifeguard and starts a dangerous relationship with a troubled teenager.

COMMENTS:

A friend involved in this film brought it to my attention too late to add to the rankings. It would be in my top ten, so I squeezed it in before the final, number one pick.

Kristen Bell is a wonderful actor, and Garcia has done great TV work. I’m looking forward to seeing her first feature.

SUNDANCE FILM PICK #2

English and Spanish with English subtitles, 2012, 103 minutes, color, U.S.A., U.S. Documentary

“To a growing number of Mexicans and Latinos in the Americas, narco-traffickers have become iconic outlaws and the new models of fame and success. They represent a pathway out of the ghetto, nurturing a new American dream fueled by the war on drugs.Narco Cultura looks at this explosive phenomenon from within, exposing cycles of addiction to money, drugs, and violence that are rapidly gaining strength on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.”

PROGRAMMERS:

“Outrageous, real, scary”

“Could win the Grand Jury award”

COMMENTS:

Can’t wait for this one. I am fascinated by drug sub-cultures around the world and this is one of the most warped realities I have heard of.

SUNDANCE FILM PICK #3

“Ass Backwards is the story of two co-dependent best friends who fancy themselves as high powered stylish New York City gals – even though they share a water bed, sell their eggs for cash and think a table at Starbucks is a corner office. These loveable losers take a road trip back to their hometown to claim the beauty pageant crown that eluded them as children and discover that ignorance really is bliss.”

PROGRAMMERS:

A definite favorite of programmers… big programmers… they wouldn’t shut up about it and kept giggling out loud and exchanging glances like it was some grand inside joke

COMMENTS:

This sounds like a winner but historically, I have a terrible record seeing movies in the At Midnight category. I will do my best!

SUNDANCE FILM PICK #6

“A gripping tale of love, lust, and the power of friendship, Two Mothers charts the unconventional and passionate affairs embarked upon by two lifelong friends, Lil and Roz, who fall in love with each other’s sons. Afraid of facing the ire and judgment of their insular seaside community, they continue the relationships in secret over the years. Once the affairs are discovered, the revelation threatens to tear apart their lives and those of the young men, who must eventually choose between following a well-worn path or their true desires.”

PROGRAMMERS:

“Awards caliber performance by Naomi Watts and Robin Wright

The favorite film of the festival of one unnamed Sundance programmer

COMMENTS:

A unique take on a taboo topic adapted by a great writer and highly praised by the people who have seen it.

A dearth of social media around this film–thanks SOPHIE for having the only Twitter account I could find.

SUNDANCE FILM PICK #7

“Sutter Keely lives in the now. It’s a good place for him. A high school senior, charming and self-possessed, he’s the life of the party, loves his job at a men’s clothing store, and has no plans for the future. A budding alcoholic, he’s never far from his supersized, whisky-fortified 7UP cup. But after being dumped by his girlfriend, Sutter gets drunk and wakes up on a lawn with Aimee Finicky hovering over him. Not a member of the cool crowd, she’s different: the “nice girl” who reads science fiction and doesn’t have a boyfriend. She does have dreams, while Sutter lives in a world of impressive self-delusion. And yet they’re drawn to each other.”

PROGRAMMERS:

“Touching coming-of-age film”

“These weren’t the people you knew in high school”

“Has an edge to it”

COMMENTS:

I’m surprised a COA movie ended up so high on my list–not my favorite genre. I liked the excitement and reverence the programmer’s gave it.

This film’s cast/crew has more Twitter accounts than any other film I have picked. Y’all need to get out of your PJs and… wait, sorry, pot calling the kettle shiftless.